Cape Town has been designated as World Design Capital 2014 by the International Council Society of Industrial Design (ICSID).
Cape Town’s World Design Capital 2014 implementation company, Cape Town Design (a non-profit organisation) has been mandated by the City of Cape Town to manage the planning, co-ordination and roll out of the 2014 programme.
Cape Town Design has announced that the call for proposals around World Design Capital 2014 will open next month in January 2013.
It will be the first of two rounds where the public can submit their project ideas ahead of Cape Town hosting the World Design Capital. Some of these projects will be included in 2014’s event programme.
This was one of the announcements at a stakeholder discussion held at Cape Town City Hall last week, at which the official World Design Capital 2014 plaque was also unveiled.
Cape Town Executive Mayor Alderman Patricia de Lille; mayoral committee member for tourism, events and marketing, Councillor Grant Pascoe; Richard Perez, the City of Cape Town’s director of the World Design Capital and Chris Whelan, the vice chairman of the World Design Capital implementing agency were on the panel.
Erica Elk, board member of the World Design Capital’s implementing agency, outlined some of the key time-frames leading up to 2014.
In January the first open call will start and it will last for three months. A few months later, in March the next session opens, ending in July.
Perez said one of the goals was to have a WDC2014 project in every one of the City’s wards. He said the City had a wide network it could access to reach communities and spread the World Design Capital message, including libraries and local councillors.
Curator panel
The nomination process for the curatorial panel was also opened. This panel, made up of voluntary members, will be tasked with assessing the public proposals. Town planners, design educators, visionaries and pragmatists are invited to apply. Ideally the panel will draw on individuals from a range of different backgrounds. Those individuals interested in being considered for the curator panel are requested to send a letter of motivation and a short bio to .
Closing date is the 4 January 2013, with the appointments being made on 15 January 2013 (Editor's note: the curatorial panel nomination process has been extended to 31 January.)
International Advisory Committee
The nomination process for the International Advisory Committee (IAC) was also opened. The primary objectives of the IAC will be to advise Cape Town Design regarding programme development and to play an ambassadorial role for World Design Capital 2014 to help position Cape Town internationally. The IAC will provide an external perspective on the 2014 strategy and vision and will help with wider engagement internationally.
There are two positions available, one for an Africa-based designer and another for a Cape Town-based individual with an international profile.
Those individuals interested in being considered for the IAC are requested to send a letter of motivation and a short bio to
Closing date is the 4 January 2013, with the appointment being made on 15 January 2013.
Call for credentials
Cape Town Design requires the service of the following types of companies to assist in the promotion and messaging for World Design Capital 2014:
- Public relations
- Marketing
- Web
- Design
Companies experienced in large events of this nature are invited to submit their credentials to for consideration. The initial contract period will run from January 2013 to end June 2013.
Closing date is the 7 January 2013, with shortlisted companies being interviewed from the 17 until 21 January 2013.
Photo by Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town
